Latest news with #Mnisi
TimesLIVE
3 hours ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
'A white advocate would not have the gall': judge slams counsel who asked for time off to run Comrades
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng, presiding over the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, was furious on Thursday when defence advocate Charles Mnisi asked to be excused from court to accommodate his plan to run the Comrades Marathon. In an email sent to the court's registrar, Mnisi asked for a message to be relayed to the judge about his planned absence. He represents two accused in the trial, which is scheduled to be in session on Monday. The message read: 'Dear colleague. Will you kindly convey my humble request of leave of absence on Monday the ninth June 2025 to the Honourable Judge. The reason for my unavailability on this date is that I will be running the Comrades Marathon on Sunday, the eighth of June 2025, and will be driving back on the following day, being the Monday that I have referred to. I know this may affect the proceedings in the above-mentioned matter, but may I apologise in advance for the inconvenience to be occasioned by this request.' Mokgoatlheng, who has previously voiced his frustration at the delays in the case, expressed his displeasure that Mnisi intended to skip a court day and that he didn't write to him directly. 'Now, this is what I talk about. Mr Mnisi doesn't think he can write to me directly. He writes to me through my registrar — and he says they must tell me that he's not coming to court on Monday. If Mr Mnisi doesn't want to come to court on Monday, that's his business. I will be in court. And the JP expects me to be in court. I can't tell the JP somebody's going to run the marathon. So the case should stop. Everybody should watch the marathon, I suppose,' he said.
IOL News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
'Unacceptable': Judge outraged as advocate skips Meyiwa trial for Comrades Marathon
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has condemned Advocate Mnisi's request to miss court for the upcoming Comrades Marathon, calling it unprofessional and disrespectful amid long delays in the high-profile Senzo Meyiwa murder trial. Presiding Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng has expressed outrage in court after learning that Advocate Charles Mnisi requested to be excused from proceedings on Monday to participate in the Comrades Marathon. The judge, visibly furious, made it clear that the seriousness of the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial could not be sidelined for personal activities. "I'm not going to respond. If Mr Mnisi doesn't want to come to court on Monday, that's his business. I will be in court and the JP expects me to be in court," said Judge Mokgoatlheng. "Can't tell the JP somebody's going to run the marathon. So, the case should stop. Everybody should watch the marathon, I suppose." He referenced several other judges who are athletes, including Judge Boissie Mbha and Constitutional Court Judge Rammaka Mathopo, pointing out that none of them have ever let athletic commitments interfere with their judicial responsibilities.
The Citizen
6 hours ago
- The Citizen
‘This is what happens in a SA run by blacks': Senzo Meyiwa trial judge fires off explosive rant
Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng addressed what he perceived as a lack of decorum in court. Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng during the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial at Pretoria High Court on 17 July 2023. Picture: Gallo Images/Phill Magakoe Judge Ratha Mokgoatlheng is facing criticism over 'racially charged' comments made during the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial on Thursday. The trial resumed at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, with the cross-examination of lead investigator Brigadier Bongani Gininda by Advocate Charles Mnisi on behalf of accused one, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya. His line of questioning drew sharp criticism from Mokgoatlheng following Mnisi's comment during Wednesday's proceedings, in which he referred to Gininda's former colleague, retired Colonel Mhlanganyelwa Moses Mbotho, as the 'dumbest cop in South Africa'. The judge reprimanded Mnisi, calling the remark an 'insult'. Tensions rise in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial On Thursday, Mokgoatlheng addressed what he perceived as a lack of decorum in how defence lawyers refer to witnesses without using official titles. 'Somebody made a comment that if Mandela comes here and gives evidence, he is Mr Mandela or something like that. 'This is what happens in this court, people telling the judge you are mad,' he said. ALSO READ: 'No proper investigation was done': Defence frustrated over missing evidence in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial The judge contended that his previous ruling on how to address witnesses was disregarded. 'I was told to go jump into the sea.' He further commented on the conduct of black legal professionals. 'When I make remarks about our black counsels, attorneys and maybe even judges, I'm told 'you are crazy, you think you are better than other people'.' Judge rants about Senzo Meyiwa murder trial delays Mokgoatlheng also expressed frustration that Mnisi had communicated his unavailability for Monday's sitting to the judge's registrar. Mnisi will be participating in the Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) over the weekend and is expected to drive back to Gauteng on Monday. Attorney Sipho Ramosepele defended Mnisi's method of communication, saying it is standard practice for the defence to correspond through the registrar. This view was supported by state prosecutor George Baloyi. 'If Mr Mnisi doesn't want to come to court on Monday, that's his business. I will be in court,' Mokgoatlheng responded. READ MORE: Will Senzo Meyiwa murder trial finally end in 2025? The judge referenced the public's growing frustration with the drawn-out trial, citing sentiments such as 'justice delayed is justice denied', '10 years no justice', and the ongoing distress of the Meyiwa family. 'Even the accused themselves have been in custody for two to three years. And here's this stupid judge called Ratha Mokgoatlheng allowing a person who is representing two of the accused here to go and run a marathon.' He said he would need to justify the lack of proceedings on Monday to Gauteng High Court Judge President Dunstan Mlambo. Mokgoatlheng added: 'This is what happens in a South Africa run by blacks. I can tell you now, even if you call Uncle Tom, I don't think a white advocate will ever have the gall to ask me that. Never.' Judge criticised over remarks The Good party has strongly condemned Mokgoatlheng's comments, calling them 'racially charged' and 'deeply concerning.' The party emphasised the need for the trial to be handled with 'utmost seriousness and integrity.' 'While the judge's frustration over delays in this long-running and emotionally charged trial may be understandable, resorting to racially divisive language is entirely unacceptable. 'It undermines the integrity of the judiciary and risks inflaming already fragile race relations in South Africa,' Good secretary-general Brett Herron said in a statement on Thursday. 'Decorum in court is not just about the behaviour of lawyers and attendees, it begins with the conduct of the bench. Judges must embody the fairness and dignity they expect from others. These comments fall far short of that standard.' Herron has called on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to investigate the judge's remarks. This is not the first time Judge Mokgoatlheng has faced criticism over his remarks. He previously issued an apology following comments about black lawyers, made while criticising the late defence lawyer Thulani Mngomezulu for his absence. NOW READ: 'That is the law': Judge intervenes as lawyers squabble in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial
TimesLIVE
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Going to the river with Rich Mnisi
As fashion continues to grapple with questions of sustainability, storytelling and self-expression, South African designer Rich Mnisi responds with grace and an unmistakable sense of rhythm. His latest collection, Nambu, is a visual meditation on time, memory and motion. Referencing the isiThonga word for river, Nambu is both metaphor and map, charting the evolution of Mnisi's decade-old brand alongside the global currents shaping his design language. 'Nambu felt deeply personal,' Mnisi says. 'It was honestly a river. There were calm moments and then wild, emotional rapids. It forced me to pause and reflect on everything we've been through as a brand and as a team.' That emotional pull courses through the collection's fluid tailoring, its softened colour palette and its recurring motifs of water and movement. From flags that pay homage to Mnisi's personal and national history to reimagined silhouettes from earlier collections, Nambu is a living archive, a love letter to 10 years of building the Republic of Rich Mnisi.
The Citizen
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
R70 million for water budget but taps still run dry
Bushbuckridge residents face severe water shortages while the municipality fails to spend its R70 million water infrastructure grants. Bushbuckridge local municipality in Mpumalanga has come under fire for underspending its allocated water budget while there is a water shortage in its more than 250 villages. In a document recently presented to the council, the municipality acknowledged an inadequate water supply and conceded that all 252 villages had water shortages. It is claimed that in the 2024-25 financial year, the municipality only spent 8.3% of the allocated R40 million water services infrastructure grant as of December 2024 and when asked, it did not give straight answers. Only 8.3% of a R40 million water budget used 'It also spent only 9.1% of the allocated R30 million regional bulk infrastructure grant as of December 2024,' said DA councillor Canuel Mnisi. 'The DA in Bushbuckridge will write to the municipal manager to express its concerns with the underspending of water infrastructure grants while residents are without water.' Mnisi said residents were deprived of basic services because of the municipality's failure. ALSO READ: Battle brews over municipality's missing millions He said that the municipality should start taking accountability and ensure that funds allocated are put to good use for the delivery of services. 'Given a combined shortfall of about R63.9 million, the DA would ask the municipal manager to explain if any more of these grants have been used during the past four months. 'In addition, what measures are in place to ensure that all these grants are utilised by the end of the 2024- 2025 financial year?' said Mnisi. Water woes despite R1 billion Inyaka Dam completion Bushbuckridge's water woes are despite the completion of the R1 billion Inyaka Dam some years ago. In a previous interview with The Citizen, the municipality conceded there was a shortage of water which was attributed to illegal water connections. Political analyst Goodenough Mashego said the underspending should be investigated to establish what exactly is the cause. ALSO READ: Councils take pension billions 'The government entity, department or municipality that returns money to the Treasury, or fails to spend its allocated budget for a particular task is a sign of corruption.'
